While accomplishment of specific technical skills is no longer required to be eligible to sit for the CCRN exam, having knowledge and/or experience with specific critical care technical skills (i.e., hemodynamic monitoring, ventilating patients) may benefit you in understanding the questions presented on the exam. Having knowledge and experience with patient situations involving technology that monitors or maintains life functions will enhance your understanding of the patient care scenarios outlined in the examination. If you are unfamiliar with a specific technology (for example intracranial pressure monitoring), in addition to learning about the technology through studying, you may wish to seek out clinical experiences that enable you to become familiar with normal and abnormal readings, patient assessment, and troubleshooting.

PEDIATRIC - This document is designed to serve as an example of the types of procedures that critical care nurses perform. It is only for your own reference, and is no longer part of the eligibility to sit for the exam or for recertification of CCRN status.

Hemodynamic instability that required: monitoring
central venous pressure monitoring
pulmonary artery pressure monitoring
invasive cardiac output / index determination
direct RA / LA / PA pressure monitoring
umbilical / arterial and venous pressure monitoring
intravenous vasoactive agents
continuous EKG monitoring
intravenous phosphodiesterase inhibitors (e.g., amrinone)
Life-threatening conditions that required: emergency drug administration (e.g. epinephrine, atropine)
intraosseous infusions
continuous intravenous insulin infusion
exchange transfusion
Compromised air exchange that required: continuous respiratory monitors
an endotracheal tube
a newly inserted tracheostomy
nasal / facial CPAP
conventional mechanical ventilation
use of a manual resuscitation device (AMBU / anesthesia bag)
newly inserted chest tube(s) / needle aspiration
end tidal CO2 monitor
bronchoscopy
intravenous paralytic agents
Cardiac dysfunction that required: a temporary pacemaker
elective cardioversion
intravenous antidysrhythmic agents
intravenous thrombolytic agents
defibrillation
prostaglandin therapy
mediastinal chest tube(s)
Alteration in comfort that required administration of:
continuous intravenous narcotic infusion
intravenous push narcotics
Neurologic dysfunction that required: intracranial pressure monitoring devices (e.g. bolts, screws, fiberoptics, subdural cup)
ventriculostomy
barbiturate coma
intravenous push anticonvulsive agents
Renal dysfunction that required: acute peritoneal dialysis